Your Questions

Dear Mr Cornwell I'm interested to note that someone recently asked whether you had considered writing about the Duke of Marlborough's campaigns in the same way as you've written about Wellington's campaigns through Sharpe and you said you had thought about it. I really hope you do because I'd love to learn about Marlborough as I've learnt about Wellington and I definitely don't know of anyone else who's done it. I recently thought about researching Marlborough and seeing if I can write about him myself but I'm working on a raher large project at the moment with at least one other planned in the future and I also realised that writing about historical battles is a lot harder than you make it appear! So I hope you will write about Marlborough one day. Then again I'm looking forward to more of the Uhtred story because I really enjoyed The Last Kingdom (I wish Ragnar hadn't died though). I'm also hoping to see more of Rider Sandman one day and of course I can't resist any future Sharpes! One of the really interesting things in The Last Kingdom is the historical note at the end - I thought the mention of your ancestors was particularly interesting. I think it always adds more interest to a subject if you know of a connection like that. If only we could all have ancestors with interesting history... One question - how does the AE in a name alter the pronunciation? One last thing, I wondered if you'd read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarfk, the story of two magicians in Regency era England? I really enjoyed this book though sadly there wasn't as much about Strange assisting Wellington in his campaigns as I would have liked. Marie

I have not read all your books but the ones I have, I enjoyed. My favourite was the Heretic trilogy. Have you written any books on the templars or the crusades? Also if you are looking for a good book to read try "Eagle in the Snow" by W. Breem. Conor McHugh

It seems to me that in the books written after the successful TV films, Sharpe changed and became the character as played by Sean Bean. Were you conscious of this and was it deliberate? As a consequence, do you think that you can still read the total series in historical sequence and not be a little confused by the changes in Sharpe's character and past? Simon Hoggett

Dear Mr Cornwell, Firstly, I'd like to congratulate you on the excellent Sharpe series, to which I have become hopelessy addicted over the last few months. I'm curious to find out whether the way that you see the character of Sharpe has been at all influenced in your later works by Sean Bean's portrayal of him in the TV films. Because I saw the films before reading the books, I always tend to imagine Sharpe looking like Sean - despite the fact that your descriptions of him differ in some ways. Has he changed at all in your imagination? Mark Stokes

I am another devotee of 'Sharpe'!! having read all the books in chronological order so was able to follow the rise of Richard from Ranker to Major!! The last one being 'Sharpes Escape' also I have all 14 DVD's. At the moment I am reading 'Marching with Sharpe' by BJ Bluth which I can recommend to all your readers. My question is:- Were you pleased with the choice of the excellent Sean Bean to play Sharpe? Was that how you envisaged him? Thank you so much for giving me so much pleasure, and of course I am looking forward to the next episode! Yours Mike Southport Merseyside.

Hello there, I have just finished all of the Sharpe books, and loved them. But I do have a question for you - do you think that Sharpe would have been as successful in another time period, ie WW1 or English Civil war? Tina

You mention a lot of religions and write a lot of different languages in your book. Do you extensively study these languages or just learn a few lines from them? The religions; are they invented or were most of them real? Michael

Hello again, Mr. Cornwell. Here's another question: Why didn't you permanently hook Sharpe up with La Marquesa at the end of "Sharpe's Honor"? Even with all her divided loyalties, she can't possibly have been any worse for him than Jane turned out to be. If you ever choose to slightly alter Sharpe's chronology and tell the story of Sharpe at the siege of San Sebastian, I hope that Helene will make another appearance. Alan Kempner (P.S.) And PLEASE, Mr. Cornwell, write the next Sharpe (Barossa) in '06, not '07.

Dear Mr Cornwall I have just read your book The Last Kingdom and I loved it. I was just wondering though if you are going to have the famous legend of Alfred and the cakes? I was also wondering if you had the words to any songs such as the war song of Belli mwar from the Arthur books? Jack Bullen

hello and happy new year! and yes I am a frog a real one with an ancesor (at least ) fighting "on the other side"... I read all the Sharpes and got my hands on the videos (I first saw one on a trip to the US!) all Starbuck and Redcoat..not yet a medieval story.Obviously I like your works. I am always curious of how it is done and like hundreds who get in touch I suppose, I am a would be author! well one day. How many books do you do per year? how long does it takes ? how many do you sell? (I don't work for the blood suckers ie revenue...) as usual I was a bit disapointed when I saw the TV Sharpe : Sean Bean is a good Sharpe I think but Harper does not fit well : he is too small, and the "company" is way too small. I think they did not have enough people. It looks a bit silly to see Nosey with 3 aides 12 tents 24 highlanders and 20 redcoats. Well I suppose it's the way of european tv and films. I wonder how you can get more Sharpe done. It's a bit like the naval writers, when the ogre is gone.. it's peace. I think you can do a lot more on India. (these could sell in French I suppose) anyway well done and keep going! jc

Mr. Cornwell, I'd like to thank you for many hours well spent. I didn't think I'd like your version of King Arthur but once I picked up the first book I realized that yours is perhaps one of, if not the best, modern version around. I think I must be in the minority when I say I don't want to see a movie based on your Arthur books. I think Hollywood would ruin them. However, my question has to do with another fine effort of yours -- the Grail Quest. How far could an English Archer fire an arrow and have a reasonable expectation of hitting a target, say, the size of a man's head? At what distance could he expect to be effective firing at a grouped mass of men? Thanks for the answer, and thanks for the books! -- Eric from Memphis

THE LAST KINGDOM is greatly anticipated. Have you had the occasion the read THE WALKING DRUM by Louis L'Amour which is very much on point and seems to be a continuation of the Viking sagas? Best regards from across the pond. Richard Dupere